Folding table.



A. R. ULP.

FOLDING TABLE. I APPLICATION FILED 0m19.191s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5x3 16 6x91? a: 6 $9' a z5 1 5 Patented J une 25, '1918.`

ALFRED n. ULP, or RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

ratones. l Y

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patqmtedl Jun@ 25, 119mg Application filed December 19,` 1916. lSerial No. 137,850.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED R. ULP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented `new and usefullmproyements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding tables, and it has for its object to produce a simple and improved folding table which may vnot only be folded so as to vary the area of the line 6.-6 in Fig. 4.

table surface, but which may also be collapsed for transportation and for storage in very limited space. l

A further object of the invention is to produce` a simple and improved folding and collapsible table for dining room, libraryand other purposes which will admit of the legs or supporting'mmembers folding fiat against the tabletop, thereby minimizing space. A further object of the invention is to simplify and improvethe detailed construction and arrangement of the table and the component parts thereof. y

, With `these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature ofthe invention is betterunderstood, theinvention consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully `,described and particularly vpointed out in the claims. In ythe accompanying drawings hasbeen illustrated a simple and preferred form `of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details 4therein eX- hibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted `to when desired.

"In the drawings, y f y Figure 1 is a side view showing the table with the top folded. e Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

1 Fig. 3 is artransverse sectionalqvew showin the table with the top extended. l(Fig. 4 isa bottomplan view showing the tablefolded and collapsed. p

Fig.` 5 is a sectional view taken Von the line 5-5 in Fig; 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the Fig. Z is a side` view showingfthe table Vfolded and collapsed.

8 is an end view of the same. Y Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view taken on the line9-9 Fig. 8.

near the ends of the latter.

e Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The table top is composed oftwoleaves which for convenience will be designated as the top leaf 15 and the bottom leaf 16,\said leaves being hinged together so `that the top leaf may be folded upon the bottom leaf.

The table frame includes side rails 17 which are connected together in spaced `relation by cross bars 18, said cross bars being secured on the under faces of the siderails The side rails are also connected together near the respective ends thereof by pairs of angle bars 19 which` are terminally embeddedin the side rails' adjacent to the upper faces thereof,

said angle bars having horizontal flanges a that lie liush with'the top faces ofthe side rails and vertical flanges 'Each'side rail is provided in the inner face thereof with a longitudinal groove 20, and it will be observed that the vertical flanges b ofthe angle bars 19 are disposed between the top wall of said groove andthe top face of the side rail so that the groove will be unob-` structed by the flange of the angle bar.

The bottom leaf l16 of the table top is provided with headed studs or buttons 21 extending downwardly from the bottom face thereof in engagement with the angle bars 19, the latter being spaced apart so as to produce guide slots 22 in which the Shanks of the studs or buttons 2'1 are. guided, the heads of said buttons being accommodated between the vertically disposed flanges b of said angle bars. The table top is in this manner connected slidably with the frame, and it will be seen that by moving the top transversely of the frame the hingedly connected edges of the top and bottom leaves may be disposed substantially in the vertical plane of one side rail 17 of the table frame, orin an intermediate position about midway between the side rails 17. In the first position the leaves will be folded, the top leaf on top of the bottom leaf, as seen in Figs. l and 2. When the table top is 'movedso as to disposethe hingedly conengaging angle bars 19 and buttons 21 ini terengaging slides of wellknownconstruction may be used when preferred.

The legs or supporting members 235 are connected together in pairs, each pair of legsbeing connected; together by a; top; bar 24E-and a bottom bar 25, said legs converging upwardly and diverging downwardly, as shown clearly inF ig. 4 of the drawings. Each pair of legs, together with the connecting'bars. 2s and 25, thus constitutes an independent frame which is furthermore reinforced by a cross bar or brace 26, whereby the. legs 23 are connected together intermediate their upper and lower ends. Thetop cross bar 24 is provided with terminal trunnions 27 voperating in the grooves 20 in the y' inner faces of the-.side rails 117; Each of said, grooves is provided midway between itsv ends with-a stop member 28. The leg frames are adapted to slide between the side rails 17 of the frame, andowing tol the, conver-gent disposition of the legs the leg frames when they approach, the yinward limit of their respective movements will become wedged between the side rails 1.7, thereby.

f preventing rattling ofthe parts when handledl for the purposel of Astoringthe same. The stop members 28 will positively limit inward movement., of the` respectivek leg frames. v

Pivotally connected with the side rails 17 are V.shaped yokes 29.` Eachk cross bar 26 has a V.shaped recess 30 toireceivefthe-apex of one'oflthe yokes when the table. frame is extended', the yokebeing secured inthe 'ref cess 30 by means offl a. fastening member 31 which may beof any description. Thus, the said fastening member may consist of a pin or bolt extending transverselyy through the cross bar 26, or ak spring snap' ,or fastening devicemay be used.

It, will be seen in thef operation= of the leg,` frames, thesame, when the` table is folded, vwillgslide lengthwise` between the side railsV 17, the cross pieces 18- and the v angle ybars 19, the tablelegs 23 beingso proportioned as, toA t snugly betweeny the severalparts. To setup thef table for use,the legg framesV .are pulled outward until. the trullniolfls27l enga-ge the outer ends of the grooves 2,0 'in the side rails, beyond'the.` cross pieceslSgof the table frame, Tthus .permitting the legsl to be swung: downward with ref spectfto thetable top-1 and the `table to.,beset 2,9arethen manipulated,l to insert,.the fapic'es thereof into the recesses .3,0 oftlie cross bars folded, as seen inv Figs. 1iandl2, or'xitfmav` be extended:Y as .seen- `in Fig.l l3, `accordingfto (the use that it is desired to make of the table'.

`mov'edito a positionwhere the hook-shaped parts, a latch or fastening member C is employed, said latch member comprising a pin- 'tlevor-pivotmember 32, a handle me1nber-33 extending from one end thereof and a hookshapedlatch member or catch 3ft extending from the other end of the pivot membersaid catch being angularly disposed with respect to the handle member 33. The pivot member 32 is suitably pivoted on the table frame; the bottom leaf 16 is provided with a slot 35 forv the passage of the catch 34, and the top leaf' 15` has a recess 36 covered by a slotted face plate 37 through which the hookshaped catch will project when the leaves are folded. It is obvious that when the folding leaves are extended, as seen in Fig. 4,'the catch will be withdrawn by swinging the pivot member C about the aXis of the pivot 32, so that the catch 34 will. lie in a non-obstructing position with respect to the bottom leaf`16. l/Vhen the leaves are folded together and moved topplace the hingedly connected edges thereof inthe plane of one ofthe side railsof` the table frame, the slotl 35 and recess 36 will be brought in alinement with the latch member which is now i catch 3% will vextend through the slot 35` and in engagement' with the faceplate 37,' as best` seen in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

I would desire it' to be understood that in place ofthe latch device herein shown, any convenient means. for securing the table leavesin folded or collapsed condition` may be employed without departing from the p spirit'of the invention.

From theforegoing description, it .willbe seenthat I have produced a foldable and collapsible` table off simple, andA improved construction which will'y be strong, durable and'i'neXpensive and whichmaybe suitably employed. for dining room, library-brother purposes, a great advantage resding'in" the facility with which the table may be collapsed and' folded into' very small compass for shipment or storage.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, is

1. In a folding table, atop frame comprisingside rails having grooves in,- their inner faces and cross bars secured on'the under faces of the siderailsand securing said yside, rails together in .spaced Aand parallel relation, a table top mountedlon' the top frame, and, leg frames each comprising a pair of legs, andtopfandbottom bars connectingthe same, the` top bars having trunnions operating in the grooves in the inner faces ofthe sidelrails of the top frame.V

2. In afoldingtable, a top frame comririsin'gv side rails having1A` groovesingtlieir inner faces and cross bars secured on the under faces of the side rails and securing said side rails together in spaced and parallel relation, a table top mounted on the top frame, and leg frames each comprising a pair of upwardly convergent legs, a bottom bar, a top bar having terminal trunnions operating in the grooves in the inner faces of the side rails of the top frame, and an intermediate cross bar having a V-shaped recess; and V-shaped yokes pivoted on the side rails of the top frame and having apices adapted to be secured in the recesses formed in the cross 'bars of the leg frames.

3. In a folding table, a top frame comprising side rails having grooves in their inner faces and cross bars secured on the under faces of the side rails and securing said side rails together in spaced and parallel relation, a table top mounted on the top frame, and leg frames each comprising a pair of upwardly convergent legs, a bottom bar, a top bar, having terminal trunnions operating in the grooves in the inner faces of the side rails of the top frame, an` intermediate cross bar having a `tl-shaped recess; and ll-shaped yokes 'pivoted on the side rails of the top frame and having apices adapted to be secured in the recesses formed in the cross bars of the leg frames, and meansfor securing the apices of the yokes in the recesses of the cross bars when the table is extended for use.

4. In a folding table, a top frame including side rails, a folding top slidably connected with said top frame, and leg frames having top bars slidably connected with the side rails of the top frame, said leg frames being foldable flat-wise with respect to the table top, between said rails of the top frame, the top bars of the leg frames when thus folded being disposed midway between the ends of the top frame; each of said leg frames having downwardly divergent legs which, when the frames are folded, may be wedged between the side rails of the top frame.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ALFRED R. ULP.

women oit thm patent may he obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente,

Washington, D. 

